Chapter 15
Cuvera was super upset that Kiara160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8kSfs0aBD
had told him to stay behind while Vander escorted her around the castle. He had160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGqf2LnwXO
missed his chance to spend time with her because he was out with Vander, so she160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEsPiILDBe
wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It felt uncomfortable being between160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ611gfIzZMt
the two of them, but he felt like he had less of a choice than the prince did,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxp2FJ6Va0
so he did as she had asked. Eliza had opted to stay in as well, mostly to keep160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3GJQg0YsV
an eye on Cuvera, but also so Vander and the princess could be given privacy. Whatever160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gkPeeLjQU
for, he didn’t know, but he expected it would become clear to him soon.
He took all around the castle,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6fNChOMhT
introduced her to as many servants as possible then she took the time to chat160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pgezqpaKF
with them for a couple of minutes to get to know their names as well as what160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuv8TEeSMf
they did around the estate. As the future queen, he thought it was a good idea160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrraPoLVnLW
for her to get close to those who served her because, as recent events could160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1hfrA5mtm
attest, you never knew who might try to kill you. The tour of the castle ended160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QHpJufWyr
in the middle of the night and in the central garden where only a few were160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVeoveYAKp
allowed to enter.
“We can go no further.” Vander160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU1upPddNG
said, stopping just on the outside edge of the garden. “This is for the King160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn0w9bGhCP
and Prince only. Not even the servants are allowed to tidy up in here.”
“Must be a special place.” Kiara160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs57Mj89Jv
beamed. Looking up into the sky, the moon could be seen shining just above the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Sx4RPZgw3
garden giving it a blue-ish hue.
“This was the Queen’s project160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHKBSSgQUb
before she died.” Vander explained. “It’s the last thing they have from her so160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qTVehyq3Z
the two of them keep it close.”
“What was she like?” she turned to160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgILZD66mn
look at Vander. “The Queen I mean.”
“I don’t remember much about her.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp5xzfGCAb
He admitted. “She died more than a decade ago, I was still young and didn’t get160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxAmXHKUoP
to spend a lot of time with her.” He frowned, trying to remember the last time160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JbEDQxLwW
he had seen her. Kiara didn’t pressure. Instead, she just looked out into the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdaAkYSq58
garden with a slight smile on her face. “All I can remember from her is her160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYvP8lM73g
smile. It was warm and inviting, it was as if nothing else mattered in that160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi8s4GWOk2
moment other than her smile.”
“She must have been special.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWCKT7Can0
Kiara sighed. “I wish I could have met her.”
“She probably would have liked160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS00f52Kohq
you.” Vander laughed. “She liked everyone.”
“Guess so.” The two of them sat in160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoDfwdtklr
awkward silence for a few minutes. He didn’t want to break it mostly because he160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw5AJLC6xN
didn’t know what else to say to her. Anyone could have taken her around the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36yS3yGvYN
castle, including the prince, so why did she want his company? He got his160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMGoyGjHqF
answer a few moments later when she asked:
“How long have you been the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCUlJATXhG
Ma’akti Unnatun?” he must have had a confused expression on her face prompting160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWzuvpKtZc
her to laugh. “You don’t try to keep it a secret. I’m surprised more people160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCAUyoayBG
don’t know.”
“It’s a closely guarded secret.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTn68e5zii
He didn’t want to tell her about Veyar’s warnings. It might freak her out, but160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZDfANYLp4
since she knew who he was, it made no sense to lie to her. “I’ve been with her160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZz9FTjPjF
for about ten years at this point.” He suddenly wished he had Shea with him.
“I’ve heard the rumors.” She160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw81ZyGEJJz
explained. “I wanted to meet the man behind the myth and see if it was true or160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGuEzGfHGx
not. I had my doubts, but after meeting you in person I can feel her power160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMARPIdBwl
radiating from inside of you.” he froze.
“Can anyone else?” he asked.
“What do you know of the Bricenian160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHYJdeO471
royal family, Vander?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Not much.” He admitted.
“Our line has long held the power160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnyn65pKUI
of sensing the power of the deities.” She explained. “Think of it like a second160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcKCrqbx5R
sense. However, mine are heightened even further.” She held out her hand and a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JjbiAtI7G
small little flame appeared. She quickly snuffed it out before anyone else160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPVBkRoosp
could notice.
“You have the blessing of Azta?”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97sQ5dRt6J
he asked.
“That’s something that only Eliza,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDUc5ho6sv
my mother, and I know about.” She smiled sadly. “Not even the man who sired me160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvYzZHa0X9
knows this secret.”
“Sired huh?” He leaned back on the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDXSjO7PU0
bench. “I guess you have no lost love for your family either huh?” She looked160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt75gsojXH
surprised by this admission.
“You and your grandfather seem160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBTUgTYgBG
close.” She said. “You don’t like him?”
“I wasn’t talking about him.” He160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBvHlW5zfA
clenched his hands. “My father left me when I was born, after my mother died160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXSdKtGnbr
giving birth to me. My grandfather took me in and raised me here in the palace,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XtJRghnqP
but I never got to spend time enjoying myself. I was being molded to take his160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX54dO3xDab
place, just like Cuvera becoming King at some point.”
“That’s terrible.” She sighed. “At160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyQ1y7hheI
least the commander was there for you. And now you have Shea. How did you two160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw9qstP3jk
meet anyway?”
“That story and the story with160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRZKmh8hmK
Unna are the one and the same.” He said. “Since you already know my secret, I160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uaR9tBmlj
might as well tell you. It started ten years ago…”
∙
“Come on, move160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPRA2hkRPg
faster!” The Blade training captain, Jeremiah, shouted. He was running ahead of160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl680dRc0j
the small group of recruits. Vander was ahead of the group, but his lungs were160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJGge0UV2y
beginning to burn with exertion. They had been on this run through the woods160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuuQ6uQrmw
for an hour now with no sign of slowing down. Some of the recruits had stopped160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49s0R16QQt
to rest, only to be left behind. If they stuck to the path, they would be fine,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBGUrsi9nM
but you shouldn’t be out after dark. It was dangerous. Jeremiah had stopped at160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0yIzL005a
the top of the hill then turned around to watch the struggling recruits.
“Take a break once you get up160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLzMdtACM9
here.” He commanded. “We will wait for the others to catch up.”
“Yes sir!” Those who could shouted160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl4mvN1BiW
at him. The rest just wheezed and waved their hands.
Vander was the second one up the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb4DEWalpj
hill. Bree was first and was already drinking heavily from her canteen. She160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXSAAD6iEG
looked over at him, smiled, then offered him the canteen. Vander wiped his160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv8nKXRIVE
sweaty black hair off his face and fixed her with a small smile. They passed160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZwOFsqu9a
the canteen back and forth while they waited.
Muun was the third one up the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJnsfyid0q
hill. He had removed his coat, wrapping it around his waist, showing off his160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKuxslxdH1
muscular arms. He was the son of a blacksmith and had been working in the forge160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO1chmrGCN
from the time he was old enough to hold a hammer. He joined the Blades, but he160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoXJRK5l7E
and Vander had become quick friends, and so Muun had told him that he really160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLNqzaO0r2
wanted to have a farm out in the countryside. He just didn’t want to disappoint160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f9SgfH6LA
his father.
The fourth one on the hill was160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL5KxGr3aO
Leon. He looked over at Vander and Bree. A deep scowl traveled across his face160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXxrWAWd1q
as he stood as far away from the others as possible sipping his water. Vander160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIH6OlLtS2
had no idea why Leon hated him so much and when he had tried to talk to him160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBde0A3opP
about it, he just scoffed and walked away. If he had to guess it was because he160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vVhHifA6b
was the grandson of the current Blade Commander. Not that it mattered, he160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq1GhCfNNE
didn’t get any sort of special treatment. If anything, the instructors were160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCtUrx4l6p
harder on him.
After about thirty minutes of160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYSGDWtkHB
resting, all but five of the recruits had made it up the hill and Jeremiah was160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98wceyfzdA
getting nervous. He kept looking up at the sky as Humjir started to dip below160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO8Ny2lEws
midday. They had to make it back to camp before dark or they would be in160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h1dG5qnhl
danger. Jeremiah opened his mouth to give them orders when they heard a loud160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiTqBcOojb
scream coming from the trail behind them.
“Stay here.” Jeremiah shouted. He160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtfDjSGLBz
gripped his sword before running back down the hill at full speed. Bree, Muun160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8YNvd2Yo7
and Vander shared a nervous look. All of the other recruits were muttering to160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9AgVqWouj
each other with fear prevalent in their voices. Vander got up from the ground160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVWTnyGMxh
to stand next to his friend.
“What do you think is happening?”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZIRr50CW4
Muun whispered, his blue eyes alite with concern. Vander knew that only two160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eXre6GXc0
things would make someone scream like that in the wood: either bandits or a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ8dk68LOE
shadow beast. They heard another scream, this time a man’s voice, then the iron160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIynuGpEdN2
tang of blood filled the air. Vander recoiled, but the others didn’t notice it.
“I’m going,” Vander said, gripping160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMmcBD4xPM
the metal sword hidden in his scabbard.
“Don’t be an idiot.” Leon snapped.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFk5uTMiil
“Captain Jeremiah went to deal with it, you’ll do nothing, but get in the way.”
“As opposed to just sitting here160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ye6CZMdpv
even when our companions are being hurt?” Muun shook his head, glaring at their160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvF47L4mRL
classmate. “I knew you were spineless Leon, but I didn’t think you were a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt45kNz1Zlb
coward.”
“What did you say?” Leon snarled.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpEotaZjR2
He drew back his arm to throw a punch, but Bree stepped in.
“Enough.” She spoke. “Leon, look160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9a2uiyJ4f
after the others up here, the three of us will go down after the captain and160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkBIGZmvEE
see if we could be of some help.”
“Fine,” Leon lowered his hand.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkoicMspSD
“But if you die don’t come complaining to me.” Vander didn’t wait for the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz19E5ghBI
others. He just ran down the hill as fast as he could with the other two160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YAwjcELKm
following behind. The shouts and screams of fear had quieted down, but there160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LFgyFjYyc
was still the unmistakable smell of blood lingering in the air. Bree and Leon160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCHFxS7OiI
must have noticed it because their faces became pale, but they stayed the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1u1J1whYL
course.
Vander followed the smell until he160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYRKbzLBpW
noticed that the foliage around them was becoming darker despite the light160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfV7g2lDx7
shining through the canopy. Sounds of battle was coming from straight ahead,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4QEwDQuAA
but the dark gripped everything around them.
“The Dark Forest.” Muun wheezed.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNgTpdMTc9
He placed his hand on his knees gasping for breath. “How did any of us get lost160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7iLem8Yxg
in there?”
“It’s easy to get lost in here.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa80dwnpnS
Bree said. “They probably got off trail and got lost. We should-“ There was160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52apGgbQ2a
another scream coming from up ahead. However, this time it sounded like160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWMKV7oOtA
Jeremiah. Vander didn’t wait, he just dove through the bushes and into the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAWAWg1rqG
clearing. What he saw shocked him.
In the clearing was a giant Shadow160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchHkaEWHtO
Beast. Its inky black fur rippled in the setting sunlight as its teeth dripped160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKNcSWsjSc
with saliva. Blood soaked the ground around it its paws covered in red. The160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb67dIWVnQ
shadow beast was the most dangerous creature in the woods, but they didn’t160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ7z8DAYix
leave the inner circle of the forest which was why they were normally safe.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HNlAywkCX
They were the creatures of the dark, created by the Goddess Unna to kill160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Af4Vi1QRe
humanity. And they did a very good job of it.
“Why are you here?” they heard a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDrKnyh80l
man groaning from a tree next to him. Vander turned to see Jeremiah sitting on160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtFBbZ3aTY
the ground holding his hand to his stomach. Blood dripped between his fingers160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdPBVn9bJj
and his face had gone deathly pale. He didn’t have long to live.
“We didn’t want to stay behind160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKlk7P6wiz
while you were saving the others.” Muun explained.
“There are no more others.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm64JDaKPLl
Jeremiah leaned his head back against the tree. His body shook as he coughed,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZROg0glN3
blood dribbled down his chin. “The beast got us all and now that it has your160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEIQGlfqlf
scent, you’re dead as well.”
“We will have to see about that.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAc2nHG7mC
Vander gripped his iron lump of a sword. He placed it on the ground before160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j1e5UHlJH
bending down in front of Jeremiah. “I’m going to borrow your sword, Captain.”
“I can’t let you fight that thing,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzd2bwci4X
Vander.” Jeremiah’s body trembled. “Your grandfather wouldn’t approve.”
“I can’t hide behind him forever160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5XoAM4CBA
if I’m going to be a Blade.” Vander said. “If we are going to die, I’d rather160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxlhljOSyk
do it facing the enemy and not running away.” Jeremiah thought for a moment160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YujjZyhER
before nodding his head. He gripped his sword and held it out towards him.
“I wish I could have lived long160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgW2Z6GQ5B
enough to see what kind of Blade you would have become.” As soon as Vander took160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpimXUrHQL
the sword, Jeremiah’s eyes dimmed as he died.
“Goodbye Captain,” Vander lowered160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZlWPfThFw
the man’s eye lids then bowed his head. A moment later he stood up with the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9qnfCy365
sword.
It was lighter than he expected,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3diNUdAPn4
much lighter than their practice swords. There was an elegance to the sword, it160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ600JtB9diO
was a symbol of status within Eluvia, but above all it was a weapon for160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriuBVofXPR
killing. There was no other purpose.
“You can’t go out there.” Muun160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62nJ6vMecz
grabbed his friend’s arm.
“This is something I must do.”160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKxKLxmwO8
Vander gave him a grim smile. Bree just watched as Vander removed himself from160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKnI4juZIa
his friend and stepped out to face the creature.
He felt light and ready to take on160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgqWiOIzKg
the challenge. The beast was probably ten feet tall and covered with muscle. He160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufnAjq1Gv5
could feel the animosity the beast had for him, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPRhBqZ4cN
It was just bad luck that the two of them had to face each other like this when160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhbjb1UrSF
normally their paths wouldn’t cross at all. But blood had been spilt and his160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYH6ipWOLG
friends must be honored.
Vander moved first. He ran towards160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBp8fMR4Rn
the Shadow Beast with his sword ready to pierce the creature’s hide. It jumped160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5eHsnC3J1
aside at the last moment, slid on the ground, then lunged at Vander’s throat.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlOeoBu2Uh
He fell backward, bringing his foot up to catch the beast’s stomach then160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe0VNS9knC
throwing it over him. It landed on its feet then lunged again forcing Vander to160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYXDv8QbeI
roll to avoid the strike. He got to his feet before jumping backwards seconds160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyI3H2tM1X
before the Shadow Beast would have flattened him.
They circled each other warily,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeYZ8sfp3L
both exhausted. For the first time since the fight began, Vander realized the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7cVkTjvXA
creature was also bleeding heavily from its side. That confused Vander because160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGn5Pw5TQf
when creatures are wounded, they tend to run away to tend to them, but160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYZW2kyNyy
something must be keeping it here, fighting. He didn’t have time to question it160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SXwGAC3MX
as it lunged at him with its mouths opened wide.
Vander shoved his sword up into160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBHRNrQjLM
the creature’s path and there was nothing it could do as the point skewered160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNjEORUzUJ
through its throat out of the back of its head. The beast’s massive body160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv4LDuoMhP
slammed into Vander knocking him to the ground. It struggled to right itself as160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHciEYbdlG
black blood poured from the wound all over Vander. In one last ditch attempt,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSMJh4JacE
the creature scratched Vander’s face. He screamed and kicked the beast off him.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd4uHGXxK0
Their blood mingled together then flashes of light shone in his eyes. He saw a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQa51LUEn1
small white cub curled under a tree with her eyes hidden under her paws. He160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtjGfxizND
felt the beast’s last wish:
“Keep my child safe.” Before160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20cmjnR8gG
it died. Holding his bleeding face, Vander limped to where the cub was hiding.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3anmM7zHF5
He pushed back the bush protecting it from outside forces. Once the cub160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r0R3O8xG8
realized he was there, she jumped up baring her tiny teeth. Unlike her mother,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHJTWFsYn5
the cub was pure white. Vander held out his hand. She eyed him suspiciously but160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x5nbXeut2
sniffed it. Deciding that he meant her no harm, she walked up to him curling up160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77vfiejkDV
on his lap.
After that, Vander passed out160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1Dfr0EoMu
holding the cub in his arms.
∙
“After that, Bree was removed from160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WNlHmZ2jv
the Blades.” Vander explained. “Leon held an inferiority complex due to the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO6Q5byUNq
attention I received, while Alex stayed by my side.”
“And Muun?” A sad expression160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgQ4WVzQ7e
appeared on Vander’s face.
“He left three years ago after a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwFm3Kn5jT
mission that almost killed him.” Last I heard he’s living in the woods160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIvVCyffBb
somewhere with his wife.”
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“At least some good came of a160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjRgIXCeve
tragedy.” She sighed. She clapped her hands and stood up from the bench. “Come,160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pk4S7shaE
let’s get back inside before Cuvera sends out the guards.” Vander stood up then160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnFDJBbO5Z
she wrapped her arms with his. “How do you feel about Eliza joining the160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3vDTsAk1v
Blades?”
